The advantage of playing on the home field in football is like no other sport. Moving the ball in football requires audible communication on the field and fans love to drown out the opposing QB's play-calling with crescendoing roars before the snap. Confused offensive linemen are as much a part of big-stage football as cheerleaders, beer commercials and tailgating.

Goodell said last year that he believed noise should lift a defense, not interrupt an offense, according to the N.Y. Times. He said he did not want to hush the crowd, just limit its impact.

So after $75 for a seat, $15 for parking, $7.50 for a beer, and $5 for a hot dog, you can't even shout down a scoring drive against your team because they are communicating by radio. Why bother even cheering at all?

It's worth noting that the NFL hasn't posted the best year on the PR front. Michael Vick's woes put the cherry on top of a long player rapsheet from the last year. Throw in the bizarre spying controversy with the N.E. Patriots and the continuing drama of drugs in sports and one would think the league would be happy to be as popular ever. So it's puzzling why Goodell would consider such an unfriendly gesture toward fans.